Scale



No. 62I,297. Patented Mar. I4, 1899.

A. DE VILBISS, 1n.

S C A L E (Application flied Dec. 13, 1897.

(No Model.)

Wifnesscs Qfl' 0/15/ Tu: NORRIS PETERS no, PHOTQUI'HO, WASHINGTON. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

ALLEN DE VILBISS, JR., OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

- SCALE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 621,297, dated March14, 1899.

' Application filed December 13, 189 '7. Serial No. 661,636. (No modelJI especially to that class thereof employing pendnlums; and the objectof the same is prineipally to produce a scale of this character whosehand or index swings in irregular steps as weight is added to the pan orplatform over a straight-line table whose graduations or marks areequidistant.

Other objects are also attained, such as the simplicity of construction,the provision of several adjustments, the adaptability of the one scaleto heavier or lighter work, and the like.

To this end the invention consists in a construction embodying thefeatures hereinafter described and claimed, whether in the exact or anyequivalent form, and as illustrated in the drawings, wherein- Figure 1is aside elevation of this improved scale complete, showing it of thepan type, although it will be clear that it might be of the platformpattern, if desired. Fig. 2 is a similar elevation with the front of thecasing removed to show the interior mechanism. Figs. 3 and a are planviews, the first with and the second Without the pan. Fig. 5 is avertical section on line G of Fig. 2, and Fig. 6 is an elevation of amodification.

Referring to the drawings by reference-letters, A designates thescale-beam, fulcrumed within the casing or housing in the usual manner,as on a knife-edge B, and O is a second pivot or knife-edge, which inthe present instance supports the bail M of the pan R, although it willbe clear that by a slight change in structure the well-known platformcould be substituted for the pan without d'eparting from the spirit ofmy invention. Nothing new is claimed for this much of the device.

E is a bracket of anysuitable character fast within the housing, and Dis the poise, pivoted at D to this bracket and hanging normally verticalwithin the housing, although capable of swinging outward through a slottherein, as seen. The poise consists of'a pendulum preferably markedwith graduations, an adjustable weight J, moving there- N islongitudinally slotted, as seen, so as to receive an adjustable block F,to which the lower end of the connecting-rod F is pivoted. I11 this casethe arm would be provided with the graduations, and the adjustment ofthe block farther from or nearer to the pivot D would have substantiallythe same effect as the adjustment of the weight J of Fig. 2, either formof adjustment causing the poise to have greater or less resisting power,and hence to swing through smaller orlarger arcs.

H is a hand or index, of any suitable light material and which isrigidly secured to the poise at its pivotal point D. It preferablyextends slightly below the same and carries a counterweight I, and itrises above the pivot within the housing, as seen. Said housing alsocarries a scale or table L of any suitable character and preferablyprotected by glass, and the graduations of this table are equidistantfrom each other, as seen, while they extend in a perfectly straighthorizontal line across the upper part of the housing. In

swinging, the index II moves across said gradnations in an upward-bowedarc, and hence the grad uations are preferably marked on lines radiatingfrom the point D; but it is es sential that they be equidistant fromeach other, as shown.

All parts of this improved scale are of the desired materials, sizes,and proportions, and such changes in construction maybe adopted as comewithin the spirit of my invention. I do not wish to be limited as todetails excepting as set forth above and in order to produce the properoperation of the whole. The table is preferably inscribed with rows ofgraduations indicating pounds (or the like) and fractions thereof, aswell as prices, and when the latter are used the weight on the poise canbe set at any desired price per pound and the graduations read for theaggregate. However, I reserve the privilege of using any desired markingadjacent all the graduations mentioned herein.

The parts being constructed about as above set forth and standing atrest, as seen in Fig. 2, the placing of one pound on the pan R willcause the tilting of the beam A and through connection F and arm N willswing the poise D to the left one step. Since the index II is attachedto the poise and projects above its pivot D, it will therefore be swungto the right one step. The successive addition to the pan of otherpounds will similarly move the parts, though in irregular steps, thereason being that as the pendulum D rises the arm N approaches thehorizontal line of the pivot D and gains leverage more rapidly than thependulum gains weight. After passing said horizontal line the arm Nloses power, while the pendulum in its continued rise gains furtherweight. Hence through the first portion of this operation the length ofthe steps increases, and through the latter portion it decreases, sothat if the table L were curved to conform with the movement of theindex II around the center D its graduations would necessarily beirregularly spaced. I have found by practical experiment, however, thatif the graduations at L are arranged in a perfectly straight line whichis a chord of the arc through which any given point on the index movesthe variable distance between the steps on the arc is just such that thesteps on the straight line are uniform,-and the graduations if placedadjacent or upon said line will be truly equidistant. If this is true ofone straight line, it is true of another so long as it is a chord ofsaid are, and hence I may use several lines to indicate varying pricesand weights. Nor is this rule inoperative if the poise be renderedheavier or lighter, (as by adjusting weight J on pendulum D or block Fin the slot of arm N,) although the steps will thereafter be relativelyshorter or longer, and other lines in the table will be used. Hence bymeans of the adjustment described the range of action of the scale maybe increased or diminished.

What is claimed as new is- 1. In a scale, the combination with the beam,the pan carried thereby, the poise, and connections between the beam andpoise for causing the swinging of the latter in irregular steps asweight is added to the pan; of an index secured to the poise andprojecting from the pivot thereof, and a straight table havingregularly-spaced graduations over which the index moves, substantiallyas described.

2. In a scale, the combination with the beam, the pan carried thereby,the poise having a lateral arm adjacent its pivot, and connectionsbetween said beam and arm for moving the outer end of the arm past thepivot of the poise and causing the swinging of the latter in irregularsteps as weight is added to the pan; of an index connected and turningwith the poise around the pivot thereof, and a straight table havingregularly spaced graduations over which the index moves, substantiallyas described.

3. In a scale, the combination with the beam, the pan carried thereby,the pendulum, a weight adjustable on the pendulum, and connectionsbetween the beam and pendulum for causing the swinging of the latter; ofan index rigidly secured to the pendulum and projecting from the pivotthereof, and a straight-line computing-table having a plurality of rowsof graduations over which said index moves, substantially as described.

4:. In a scale, the combination with the beam, the pan carried thereby,the pendulum, a weight adjustable on the latter, and graduations thereonfor setting the weight to regulate the degree of movement of thependulum of connections between the beam and pendulum for causing theswinging of the latter, an index mounted on the pendulum, andastraight-line computing-table having regularly-spaced grad nations overwhich said index moves, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

ALLEN DE VILBISS, JR.

Witnesses:

FRANK CLIFFORD PENAYAR, ARTHUR ALLEN.

